Arsenal knocked out of Europe despite second leg victory

Arsenal almost achieved what looked an impossible task as the Gunners were one goal off taking their Champions League tie into extra time. However all they could achieve was just the three goals as despite their victory on Tuesday night at the Emirates, AC Milan went through to the next round 4-3 on aggregate. It was a brilliant first half performance in which Koscielny, Rosicky and Van Persie goals gave Arsenal an advantage going into the second half, but it wasn't to be as they couldn't get that crucial goal despite all their best efforts. Arsene Wenger named a very attacking side as Van Persie, Walcott, Gervinho and Chamberlain all started. With a list of midfielders missing out with injury such as Arteta and Diaby, there were some 'reserve' players named on the substitutes bench as Ozyakup, Miquel and Park all looked to try and get some game time.

Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League despite their second leg victory

Just six minutes into the match, Arsenal were ahead. Oxlade-Chamberlain's inswinging corner found the unmarked Koscielny who headed home from close range to give the Gunners the lead on the night.

AC Milan's first chance of the night came to Robinho as he found space outside the box before hitting a shot which cleared the cross bar.

Arsenal then tested Abbiati out for the first time in the match as Van Persie's effort was saved from a tight angle. The ball was then cleared, but only as far as Chamberlain whose shot bounced wide of the goal.

Van Persie was allowed to test Abbiati again as he was allowed to turn on the edge of the area and then fire a curling shot which Abbiati had to be at full stretch to stop.

Just before the half hour mark, Arsenal went 2-0 up on the night. Walcott's cross was only cleared away as far as Rosicky who bent the ball around the defender and into the corner of the net.

Two minutes before the break, the Gunners were to make it 3-0 from the penalty spot. Oxlade-Chamberlain raced into the penalty area before getting caught between Mesbah and Nocerino and going down. Van Persie stepped up and smashed the penalty into the back of the net to make it 4-3 on aggregate.

Arsenal were then let off as Milan wasted a big chance to extend their aggregate lead. Emanuelson got through the midfield and then found El Shaarawy on the right hand side who, one-on-one with Szczesny, put the ball wide.

The score at half time was 3-0 to Arsenal.

The first real chance of the second half fell to the visitors. Ibrahimovic was brought down by Song which result in a booking for the Arsenal man and a free kick. Emanuelson took the free kick but hit the ball over the bar.

Abbiati was to then deny the Gunners twice in quick succession. Rosicky found Gervinho who got in to the penalty area before curling a shot which was deflected and saved by the legs of the Milan keeper. The ball bounced out to Van Persie who 6 yards from goal tried to chip Abbiati but he got up quickly to deny the Dutchman.

Wojciech Szczesny then gifted Milan and Ibrahimovic a great chance as his kick only went as far as the Swedish striker but he fired wide from far out.

Szczesny then made up for his error as he got down low to save well from Ibrahimovic's drive from the edge of the area.

AC Milan then squandered another chance as Aquilani's ball was met at the back post by the sliding Nocerino, but from close range saw his shot saved by the Arsenal keeper.

The final score finished Arsenal 3-0 AC Milan on the night and Arsenal 3-4 AC Milan on aggregate.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Song, Rosicky, Oxlade-Chamberlain(75), Walcott(83), Gervinho, Van Persie.
Subs: Fabianski, Miquel, Djourou, Jenkinson, Ozyakup, Park(83), Chamakh(75).

AC Milan: Abbiati, Abate, Mexes, Silva, Mesbah(89), Van Bommel, Nocerino, Emanuelson, Robinho, El Shaarawy(70), Ibrahimovic.
Subs: Amelia, Roma, Bonera(89), Zambrotta, Yepes, Aquilani(70), Ganz.

My man of the match: Thomas Rosicky

Referee: Damir Skomina
Attendance: 59,973

Arsenal bid farewell to Henry as they suffer heavy defeat to Milan

Arsenal will have to produce a miracle if they are to reach the next round of the Champions League after they were beaten 4-0 by AC Milan in the first leg at the San Siro on Wednesday night. It was an extremely poor performance from the Gunners as they suffered their heaviest European defeat on a pitch which was almost as bad as their performance. Former Spursman Boateng opened the scoring as Robinho scored either side of the break to make it 3-0. Zlatan Ibrahimovic finished the rout with a penalty late on in the game as Arsenal were beaten by a strong Milan side. The night was also made worse as Koscielny limped off with a knee injury. However the very few positives in the game were that Kieran Gibbs returned to the starting lineup after injury, whilst Oxlade-Chamberlain looked threatening when he came off the bench.

There were a few changes made to the side that beat Sunderland at the weekend as Gibbs came in for the injured Mertesacker which meant Vermaelen was able to take up his preferred position at centre half. The impressive teenager Oxlade-Chamberlain was rested as Ramsey came in for him meaning Rosicky played out wide. Meanwhile Thierry Henry bidded farewell to the club for the second time as he played in what would be his last game before he had to return to New York Red Bulls.

Thierry Henry was playing in his last game before returning to New York Red Bulls

The first chance of the game came to Arsenal. Thomas Rosicky got away from van Bommel before cutting inside and hitting a sliced shot wide of the target.

AC Milan's first chance fell to Dutch veteran Clarence Seedorf. Seedorf managed to find Boateng who then layed the ball back to the Dutchman who drove a shot into the side netting.

However just fifteen minutes into the game, Milan were ahead. Szczesny's clearence only went as far as Nocerino who chipped the ball into the path of Boateng who then lashed the ball off the underside of the bar and into the back of the net.

Milan's next chance fell to Nocerino. The ball came out to him on the edge of the area and then he drove a shot which was inches away from Szczesny's crossbar.

Laurent Koscielny then had a rare chance to score as his head met Van Persie's freekick, however the attempt was straight at Abbiati and was comfortably saved.

Seven minutes before the break, Milan went 2-0 up. Ibrahimovic was allowed to race down the left hand side, get to the byline and then pick out Robinho who headed the ball home from close range.

AC Milan were dominating and then Boateng came close to adding to his tally for the night. Ibrahimovic played the ball through the defence and into the Ghanian who got into the penalty area before hitting a shot wide and into the side netting.

The score at half time was 2-0 to AC Milan. Arsenal were to make a change at the break as Walcott was replaced by Thierry Henry

Four minutes into the second half AC Milan got a third. Ibrahimovic was once again the creator as he found Robinho who, thanks to Vermaelen slipping, found space in which to shoot, and find the bottom corner of the goal for his second of the game.

Arsenal were being carved open far too easily as the left back Antonini was allowed to get a shot away after Emanuelson had found him but he dragged his shot wide.

The Gunners then finally managed to create another chance. Song found Henry who flicked the ball into Van Persie who on the volley hit a shot in which Abbiati was forced into making a diving save down to his left hand side.

Vermaelen, who was now playing at left back because Gibbs had been substituted, then found room to pick out a cross and find Van Persie. The skipper tried another shot on the volley, however this time it was a more straight forward save from Abbiati.

Arsenal's night then got worse as Milan were awarded a penalty after Djourou had brought down Ibrahimovic. Ibrahimovic took the penalty and fired the ball past Szczesny to make it 4-0.

Van Persie was the man that was having all the chances for Arsenal as Abbiati then saved another one of the Dutchman's attempts on goal. This time it was a header that the Milan keeper had to deal with.

Alexandre Pato in the dying seconds of the game had a chance to make it five as the ball was played forward into him but Szczesny was able to beat the ball away to make sure Arsenal suffered no more further embarrasment.

The final score finished AC Milan 4-0 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

AC Milan: Abbiati, Abate, Mexes, Silva, Antonini, van Bommel, Seedorf(12), Nocerino, Boateng(70), Robinho(84), Ibrahimovic.
Subs: Amelia, Nesta, Bonera, Ambrosini(70), Emanuelson(12), Pato(84), El Shaarawi.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny(44), Vermaelen, Gibbs(66), Song, Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky, Walcott(46), Van Persie.
Subs: Fabianski, Djourou(44), Coquelin, Benayoun, Arshavin, Oxlade-Chamberlain(66), Henry(46).

My man of the match: Thomas Rosicky

Referee: V Kassai (Hungary)
Attendance: 68,257